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Their request? They’ll sell the house if I don’t stop associating with the Tates? They’ve gone and lost their minds.
Claire comes down the ramp, carrying bags full of papers from one of my drawers—papers I always thought I’d have plenty of time to sort through.
“Claire!” Grandma says. “I didn’t know you were here, too.”
Claire’s mouth opens and closes twice as she hefts the bags down on to the blacktop. She glances at me before responding. “Sophie needs my help, of course I’m here. And I didn’t know you were coming to Longdale. Is everything okay?” The hug that Claire gives them is stiff, her eyes questioning.
“Of course,” Grandma says. “We’re just here on a little business.” Both she and my grandfather offer polite smiles.
“Good. We’d love any help you can give to the cause.” Claire’s cheeks dimple as she points to Scott. She always did know how to handle them better than I did. It’s like I can’t see past the big scars between us to see any good. Claire just has the natural touch.
Except, they look like she just asked them to taste test antacid brands. “Well, I suppose we could for a moment, but we can’t stay long,” Grandpa says.
My skin is itching all over from the family drama. The Tate brothers look supremely uncomfortable, too, but they’re not going anywhere. “Great. Thank you,” I say, starting to back away. I need a break. “If you want to just keep us company while we finish moving the last of it, that would be more than enough help.” They’re in their seventies. I’m not about to ask them to carry out the garbage bags or shelves.
I offer a stiff smile and spin on my heel. I run up the ramp to enter the bus, anxious to get a breather from my grandparents.
I’m not prepared for the gutted-out bus, wreckage from the last decade of my life, torn apart before my eyes. Some of the community members have even started ripping out the carpet, leaving the rusted subfloor exposed, broken.
I suck in my breath. Violet and her mother are removing my posters from the walls.
It’s gone. Everything’s gone. The past ten years of my life have been hauled out and stripped away.
Violet sees my stricken face. “Oh, Sophie. This must be so—”
“It’s okay, I just—” I put up a hand, but can no longer speak.
She responds with something, but I don’t hear her. I’m out of the bus, down the ramp, pushing past Oliver, his brothers, and my grandparents. I hear him call out to me, but I can’t turn around. I reach my car and all I see is a blur. Roughly, I wipe the tears out of my eyes.
All I want is to be alone.
Chapter 31
Oliver
My mind buzzes as my brothers and I drive away from the county offices. I’m reminded again just how unhealthy Vernon and Patricia Hanson are, and a lump forms in my throat when I think of how hard things must have been for Sophie all these years since losing her mom.
However, I feel good about my conversation with them just now. We spoke after Sophie left, and it was brief and to the point. Now they know that my intentions with her are honest and true. If they choose not to accept it, she and I will have some decisions to make.
I know what I want, and I hope Sophie wants the same thing. Until I know for sure what she wants, I think I just need to act as if we’re meant to be and go from there. I can’t control her feelings, but I can make mine known. I can fight for her with every ounce of strength in me.
Because I love Sophie Lawson.
I arrive at her house. It’s dark and her car isn’t there. I call her, but she doesn’t answer. If she wants space, I’ll give it to her. But I have to know that she’s okay. I’m guessing it was overwhelming to not only have the confrontation with her grandparents, but to see the state that Scott is in. Even I felt a little gutted at seeing it so torn apart, and I’ve hardly spent any time in there.
I try calling her again and this time she answers.
“Sophie? Are you alright?”
“Yeah.” Her tone is harsh, and she doesn’t sound okay.
“Are you home?” I look up and down the street to see if she parked there.
“No, Wilford and I are just driving around.” She’s quiet, but I can hear the rumble of her Corolla and Wilford’s breathing.
After a long silence, I speak. “I know you must be in pain right now. I’m here for you, Sophie.” I want to tell her I love her. It’s right there, on my tongue, waiting to be shared. But I can’t do that over the phone.
“I need to be alone right now, Oliver.”
